Duke looks to solve perimeter problems

DURHAM — The problem with the Duke basketball team's defense last season was a distinct lack of middle ground. The smalls -- 6-foot-1 Tyler Thornton, 6-2 Seth Curry and 6-4 Austin Rivers -- weren't big enough to trouble combo guards on the perimeter.

The bigs -- 6-10 brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee and 6-11 Ryan Kelly -- weren't mobile enough to help on opponents' swingmen if they got past the Blue Devils' perimeter.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski feels last year's team lacked defensive options, and that's not a problem he's used to having.

"We were real small on the perimeter and big inside," Krzyzewski said. "We didn't have the versatility defensively that we've had in the past. There's only so much you can do. You can't make them grow, shrink, or get whatever. You have to adjust to that.

"We were just a very fair defensive team last year."

C.J. McCollum tested those deficiencies repeatedly in Duke's surprising 75-70 loss to Lehigh in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The 6-3 Mountain Hawks guard got to the basket at will when Duke's interior players couldn't rotate fast enough. He hit jumpers when the guards gave him space. He ended the Blue Devils' season with 30 points. "You don't want half your team being small," Krzyzewski said. "Our perimeter was just too small last year to really compete at the highest level." Krzyzewski doesn't expect that to be a problem this season. The Blue Devils lost 6-4 guards Rivers, to the draft, and Andre Dawkins, to a redshirt. But they're adding 6-4 guard Rasheed Sulaimon and two perimeter-oriented forwards who Krzyzewski thinks can help right away.

Alex Murphy redshirted last season but should be prepared after his stint with the Finnish under-20 national team this summer.

Amile Jefferson arrives from Philadelphia with long arms, the potential frame of a power forward and the agility of a small forward.

Both are 6-8 and -- with occasional help from 6-7 junior Josh Hairston -- can give the Blue Devils serious length on the perimeter.

"Length on the perimeter always helps," Krzyzewski said. "And then when you have athletic ability added to that, that's really good because it shrinks the court."

Krzyzewski envisions a backcourt like the one Duke enjoyed in its national championship season two years ago, with 6-2 Nolan Smith, 6-5 Jon Scheyer and 6-8 Kyle Singler rotating between the block and the perimeter.

On the interior, Mason Plumlee returns along with a healthy Kelly, who is recovered from the sprained right foot that cost him the end of last season.

Plumlee's brother, Marshall, has added about 15 pounds from his redshirt year and, at 6-11, 240 pounds, is still just as mobile.

"We're going to be bigger," Krzyzewski said. "We're going to be more athletic."

Duke has a number of players it can plug into a number of different spots.

That's not a luxury shared by the team that bowed out to Lehigh.

"What we're looking to do with our Duke team is to be much more versatile," Krzyzewski said. "We'll have 10 guys, and I think all of them can play."